President Michael D Higgins’ €3,000 a night hotel stays

Franz Von Peppercorn · 09-08-2018 2:50pm

BailMeOut wrote: »

what has this got to do with waiting lists? There is an assumption by many that money moved from one place to another will fix problems in Ireland. Money has nothing to do with waiting lists. We have one of the most well funded health systems in the world however the money pumped in is badly managed. If we got rid of the presidency and gave 100% of the savings (EUR 30m over 7 years) to the HSE nothing would change other than we flush another EUR30m away.

Probably most of the complainers are right wingers. They probably don’t want any more taxpayers money spent on the HSE. Which is in fact adequately funded.

And this money is a tiny drop in an ocean of expenditure.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 09-08-2018 2:51pm

Taytoland wrote: »

Just what would Higgins be discussing on these business trips?

Business.

Turnipman · 09-08-2018 2:52pm

Taytoland wrote: »

Just what would Higgins be discussing on these business trips?

Jobs for his kids?

He's managed to get one daughter into the Seanad, but there are three others who still need to be attached to the public teat.

RobertKK · 09-08-2018 2:54pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

The president of any country isn’t going to stay in room 212, floor two, breakfast not included. Beside the fire hydrant.

Because he/she is not a man or woman of the people?
The president is simply the first citizen of the state - an equal and subject to the same laws.
That is why any citizen who fulfils the criteria can run for the presidency, they are no more special than anyone else in the country. It is a simply a job to represent the country, not to see oneself above other people in the Republic.
What is wrong with room 212, too cheap when a lot more can be spent, because we have money to waste on politicians who are there to serve us, but choose to serve themselves?

AudreyHepburn · 09-08-2018 2:54pm

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

"He's the president" doesn't excuse this wanton waste of taxpayers' money. You may think its defensible to spend €11k of taxpayers money transporting Higgins from Dublin to Kerry in a Learjet, when it's a mere three and a half hour drive for ordinary mortals. Many would not agree with you, though. €11k is roughly what someone on JSA gets over an entire year.

I'm happy to say that people should be allowed nice things, if they pay for them themselves. If Higgins wants to jet down to Kerry, or stay in luxury hotels in Geneva so that he can peddle his socialist rhetoric at a lefty conference, let him pay for these kinds of jaunts out of his own pocket.

Listen to yourself - you’d swear he was running the country into the ground! Divide €11k by the amount of taxpayers in the country- individually we are paying pittance.

I’ll say it again - he’s the president, he’s not going to slum it just to satisfy the begrudgers.

Taytoland · 09-08-2018 2:55pm

Turnipman wrote: »

Taytoland wrote: »

Just what would Higgins be discussing on these business trips?

Jobs for his kids?

He's managed to get one daughter into the Seanad, but there are three others who still need to be attached to the public teat.

Typical socialists. All about the working man and the struggle of the workers while sipping on the finest champagne and eating the finest steak.

RobertKK · 09-08-2018 2:55pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Probably most of the complainers are right wingers. They probably don’t want any more taxpayers money spent on the HSE. Which is in fact adequately funded.

And this money is a tiny drop in an ocean of expenditure.

So it is fine to waste money.

A few thousand here, a few thousand there, more elsewhere, it doesn't be long adding up...

Grayson · 09-08-2018 2:56pm

RobertKK wrote: »

You can get rooms in the same 5 star hotel for less than €500. It is hardly squalor.

But he'd have aides and stuff like that. Whatever room he stays in needs to have a separate room for meetings. Unless they all sit on the side of the bed. I'd imagine that's the reason for a suite.

09-08-2018 2:56pm

This is the only country in the world where people whinge about their president's hotel room.

Turnipman · 09-08-2018 2:57pm

Taytoland wrote: »

Typical socialists. All about the working man and the struggle of the workers while sipping on the finest champagne and eating the finest steak.

And yet the deferential "spit on me Mickey" slobberers in this great Republic of ours continue to worship the ground that he walks upon (or, more accurately, flies over)!

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 09-08-2018 2:58pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

I bet our presidency is one of the cheapest, relative to Gdp, in the world.

Michael D. Higgins on €249k makes more than Emmanuel Macron, despite the fact that Ireland is a fraction of the size of France (population 68 million vs 4.8 million). The French president also does far more than cut ribbons and attend rugby matches.

Any examples of countries with populations under 5 million that pay ceremonial presidents this much?

Turnipman · 09-08-2018 2:58pm

Deleted User wrote: »

This is the only country in the world where people whinge about their president's hotel room.

And the link to your exhaustive research that led you to that conclusion can be found where exactly?

RobertKK · 09-08-2018 2:59pm

Grayson wrote: »

But he'd have aides and stuff like that. Whatever room he stays in needs to have a separate room for meetings. Unless they all sit on the side of the bed. I'd imagine that's the reason for a suite.

The hotel is geared up for that:

http://www.beau-rivage.ch/en/events-organisation/meeting-spaces-banqueting-rooms/

Six elegant reception rooms, all with natural light and the exquisite views of the Lake or the Brunswick Gardens, the Alps or the Brunswick Monument Park provide an elegant, sophisticated setting for functions arranged to order.

09-08-2018 3:00pm

Turnipman wrote: »

And the link to your exhaustive research that led you to that conclusion can be found where exactly?

This is the only website in the world where people try to sound like professors while whinging.

ArchXStanton · 09-08-2018 3:00pm

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

Michael D. Higgins on €249k makes more than Emmanuel Macron, despite the fact that Ireland is a fraction of the size of France (population 68 million vs 4.8 million). The French president also does far more than cut ribbons and attend rugby matches.

Any examples of countries with populations under 5 million that pay ceremonial presidents this much?

Irish politicians... They were always good to themselves as everyone else was told to tighten their belts

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 09-08-2018 3:02pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

Probably most of the complainers are right wingers.

It's funny that complaining about unaccountable politicians staying in €3,000-a-night hotel rooms and taking €11,000+ trips from Dublin to Kerry on a taxpayer-funded Learjet now makes you a right-winger. I thought this was the kind of stuff that left-wingers should be up in arms about.

WinnyThePoo · 09-08-2018 3:06pm

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

It's funny that complaining about unaccountable politicians staying in €3,000-a-night hotel rooms and taking €11,000+ trips from Dublin to Kerry on a taxpayer-funded Learjet now makes you a right-winger. I thought this was the kind of stuff that left-wingers should be up in arms about.

Come on you don't care about any of the money. You hate him because he's got socialist ideals.

Hitman3000 · 09-08-2018 3:06pm

AudreyHepburn wrote:

Donâ€™t any of you complainers try to tell me that you wouldnâ€™t stay in such luxury if you could afford it.

Did he foot the bill or the taxpayer? It's an important distinction.

Mike Hoch · 09-08-2018 3:07pm

flookdgates wrote: »

You remind me of the clueless naive young wans who were falling head over heels in love with Stephen Gately of Boyzone back in the 1990s. Some people are very innocent, god bless them.

The entire county knew Varadkar was a homosexual for years but there was a silent agreement amongst the media not to out him. Taxi drivers and hotel receptionists all over Dublin could have told you he was gay. Eventually the pressure became to much for Varadkar so he gave his infamous coming out interview to RTE.

If any journalist wants to ring up that Swiss hotel they should ask if Michael D and Sabina got separate beds

Did you used to operate a Facebook account under the name Bap Sergio and Bob Allen Peters? Quite possibly the most bizarre, hilarious FB account to ever operate out of Ireland.

He claimed there are videotapes of Michael D up to no good, to the fawning admiration of his motley crew of friends (Freeman on the Land, no way we won't pay types).

He also claimed that nobody died in the Manchester concert bombing and that the Gardai are a British registered private company with no jurisdiction in the republic.

He'd make Alex Jones seem reserved.

whiskeyman · 09-08-2018 3:08pm

President Stays in Presidential Suite Shocker!

Turnipman · 09-08-2018 3:09pm

Deleted User wrote: »

This is the only website in the world where people try to sound like professors while whinging.

More unsubstantiated research that, I suspect, has just been pulled out of your largest orifice.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 09-08-2018 3:10pm

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

It's funny that complaining about unaccountable politicians staying in €3,000-a-night hotel rooms and taking €11,000+ trips from Dublin to Kerry on a taxpayer-funded Learjet now makes you a right-winger. I thought this was the kind of stuff that left-wingers should be up in arms about.

My point is you guys don’t care about the money unless it’s a politician you don’t care for.

This new found concern for the homeless and the HSE isn’t fooling too many people.

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 09-08-2018 3:11pm

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I’ll say it again - he’s the president, he’s not going to slum it just to satisfy the begrudgers.

Nobody is suggesting he should "slum it." But do you think it's unreasonable that the president, if going from Dublin to Kerry on a nonessential trip that is far from a state emergency, should be expected to travel by car? Why should we fire up the LearJet because the €200,000 spent last year on two new presidential BMWs is not good enough for him?

Assuming that the president should be entitled to live in the lap of luxury and spend whatever he wants, without accountability to the citizenry, takes us dangerously back to the monarchial attitudes of centuries ago.

09-08-2018 3:13pm

People blaming the Department of Foreign Affairs for booking it are of course indicating a much greater problem across the civil and public service - the huge number of senior civil servants who completely unnecessarily take expensive flights, stay in expensive hotels and dine in expensive restaurants while so many fundamental problems remain in our society. There is no need for that waste of our taxes. That is the most important point. And no excuses for it either. Such waste is a blatant two-fingers to taxpayers: let them eat cake.

If we had any sort of investigative journalists, there's a huge story there in Department expenses. But no ordinary journalist/sycophant would be willing to damage their "government sources" by taking it on. Such is the reality of our "free press".

09-08-2018 3:13pm

Nevertheless, blaming Foreign Affairs is also letting Higgins off scot free. If he had genuine socialist principles - as this President of Uruguay clearly has - Higgins could have easily instructed them that he doesn't want anything higher than a 4 star room. Seven years after he took office on a massive salary of €250,000 per annum, free accommodation in a mansion and no household expenses he has clearly never felt humble enough to give them this instruction. We can safely assume Higgins has been doing the same money-hungry parasitic exploitation of the Irish taxpayer from day 1 as President. That's a lot of waste for a man who should have a deep feeling for our people's history.

He's come a long, long way from the tv interview in the 1980s where he spoke with passion, and what I thought at the time was immense integrity, about his early life in poverty in Clare (in that interview he returned to his home place to add feeling to things).

Years later, I can only conclude that Higgins is nothing but a classic case of a smoked salmon socialist, just like the entirety of his Labour colleagues in the last government - all of whom from 2011 on gave massive increases to their friends/advisors, far above the set limits, and restored their own pensions while simultaneously bringing in FEMPI to implement cutbacks on the rest of the public service. Labour has fully earned its place as the champagne socialist party - and this latest revelation is very, very firmly part of the same "Do as we say, not as we say" mentality that dominates there.

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 09-08-2018 3:15pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote: »

My point is you guys don’t care about the money unless it’s a politician you don’t care for.

I wouldn't support any politician who thought it appropriate to commandeer a Learjet so he could fly from Dublin to Kerry to attend a concert.

If the likes of Mary Harney had ever done such a thing, the entire left would have been up in arms.

But when the beloved Michael D. does it, anything is excusable.

martingriff · 09-08-2018 3:16pm

mariaalice wrote: »

You are still not getting it, he does not book his own hotel rooms complain to the department of foreign affairs and as someone pointed out Switzerland is very expensive.

It's a scurrilous article full of innuendo and the indo should be called out for that.

I find it great and I am agreeing with you that when the Indo has a piece that agree with people's position it is great and we should agree with it but else when it's I would never believe anything written in it.

Just remember the person writing this was hoping to get endorsements from everyone to be president and when Higgins decides to run he sckulled away by saying I was never going to run it was only to start dialogue and now low and behold he takes pots shots

My opinion is the president role as it is uselèss and unless it has greater powers should be scrapped

mikemac2 · 09-08-2018 3:17pm

The real waste of money in this story is Craughwells salary for the senate. A job it seems he doesn’t even want

09-08-2018 3:18pm

Turnipman wrote: »

More unsubstantiated research that, I suspect, has just been pulled out of your largest orifice.

This is the only orifice in the world that research can be pulled out off.

09-08-2018 3:19pm

seamus wrote: »

Sure, let's just stick him into a shared dorm in a hostel then

You repeatedly come across as desperate to defend Higgins/the Labour Party. There is, believe it not, a wide range of reasonably-priced quality accommodation between a €3000 per night room, and a €15 per night room. But nice strawman introduced to try and defend the indefensible.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 09-08-2018 3:19pm

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Did he foot the bill or the taxpayer? It's an important distinction.

The taxpayer paid because it was an official visit. Same as every single presidency, monarchy or political office in the world.

Franz Von Peppercorn · 09-08-2018 3:21pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

You repeatedly come across as desperate to defend Higgins/the Labour Party. There is, believe it not, a wide range of reasonably-priced quality accommodation between a €3000 per night room, and a €15 per night room. But nice strawman introduced to try and defend the indefensible.

This has been done to death. He isn’t staying in a mid range room in a mid range hotel either. No head of state does that.

Riskymove · 09-08-2018 3:22pm

Deleted User wrote: »

the huge number of senior civil servants who completely unnecessarily take expensive flights, stay in expensive hotels and dine in expensive restaurants while so many fundamental problems remain in our society. There is no need for that waste of our taxes. That is the most important point. And no excuses for it either. Such waste is a blatant two-fingers to taxpayers: let them eat cake.

this is absolute nonsense

There is a strict system in place in the civil service for travel aboard. There is a list of all cities and how much you get towards accommodation (based on usual rates) and its capped at that

similarly you get a certain amount for meals depending on how long you are away

Riskymove · 09-08-2018 3:23pm

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

I
If the likes of Mary Harney had ever done such a thing, the entire left would have been up in arms.

???

Hitman3000 · 09-08-2018 3:23pm

Franz Von Peppercorn wrote:

The taxpayer paid because it was an official visit. Same as every single presidency, monarchy or political office in the world.

Cool, let's stick with Ireland. It would be nice to see his jaunts and expenses that are paid for by the working public subject to FOI. It's fair in my opinion.

Muahahaha · 09-08-2018 3:24pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

So we dont have any evidence that he did actually spend a night in a 3,000 a night suite?

Theres no evidence for it at all. But that didnt prevent the reactionary right on here falling hook, line and sinker for the Indos clickbait.

In any case if they hate Michael D. so much then they will soon have a chance to vote him out of power. With his approval ratings at almost 70% I cant see that one working out for them either.

Hitman3000 · 09-08-2018 3:26pm

Riskymove wrote:

???

Mary flew to Sligo on the Aer Corps CASA plane to open an off licence for a buddy. There was up roar at the time from all parties including Labour. Higgins former party.

RobertKK · 09-08-2018 3:29pm

On the 24 day working holiday to Australia and New Zealand last year, the hotel bill for Michael and Sabine Higgins came to €28,194, paid for by the Irish embassy in Australia.

Riskymove · 09-08-2018 3:30pm

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Mary flew to Sligo on the Aer Corps CASA plane to open an off licence for a buddy. There was up roar at the time from all parties including Labour. Higgins former party.

yes I know

That's why I didn't get the "If Mary Harney had ever done such a thing"

AudreyHepburn · 09-08-2018 3:31pm

Hitman3000 wrote: »

Did he foot the bill or the taxpayer? It's an important distinction.

The taxpayer - the same as for every other head of state in the world.

€11k split between all the taxpayers in the country is nothing.

freshpopcorn · 09-08-2018 3:31pm

I'm surprised people are shocked by this to be honest.
He's the president and he isn't as down to Earth as some people make him out to be. I could never see him saying oh just book the Travel Lodge for me.

Donald Trump · 09-08-2018 3:32pm

3000 a night

Where the feck is he finding the pissing hookers for that kind of money?

Mickey-D, if you read this, send me on their contact details. Vald the prick is still squeezing a fortune out of me for the pair I had over beyond in Moscow

Franz Von Peppercorn · 09-08-2018 3:34pm

WinnyThePoo wrote: »

Permabears back!

Oh yeh. Should have got that.

dirtyden · 09-08-2018 3:35pm

seamus wrote: »

No, I think you'll find I never said anything even remotely like that.

I don't claim the breadth of knowledge on these matters that you do.

If you don't like it, vote for someone else. Simple.

A man on a business trip not paying his own expenses? That's unheard of!

But, this is not a business trip representing the Irish people. This was Higgins own flight of fancy.

Higgins uses the presidency to further his own political views which is wrong and should not be ignored.

Focusing on the money is probably not where the issue lies here, but he could quite easily have found somewhere suitable for less expense.

ArchXStanton · 09-08-2018 3:36pm

"The Office of the President is exempt from Freedom of Information legislation despite receiving more than €30m from taxpayers over the past seven years."

Yet revenue have no problem being able to go through my affairs making sure im a good wage slave as I fund this **** show

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 09-08-2018 3:42pm

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

€11k split between all the taxpayers in the country is nothing.

Higgins spent €50,000 using the government jet in the first three months of this year. But I'm sure you regard that as "nothing" as well.

Irish Independent wrote:

He has used the private jet to travel to London, Belfast, Athens and Kerry this year.

Belfast and Kerry? It doesn't concern you that Higgins is wasting tens of thousands of taxpayers' money taking private jet trips around a small island nation? Especially when the same taxpayer recently bought his office two brand new BMWs at a cost of €200,000?

Dublin to Belfast is a 2-hour drive. What's the justification for traveling by private jet?

09-08-2018 3:42pm

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

Nobody is suggesting he should "slum it." But do you think it's unreasonable that the president, if going from Dublin to Kerry on a nonessential trip that is far from a state emergency, should be expected to travel by car? Why should we fire up the LearJet because the €200,000 spent last year on two new presidential BMWs is not good enough for him?

Assuming that the president should be entitled to live in the lap of luxury and spend whatever he wants, without accountability to the citizenry, takes us dangerously back to the monarchial attitudes of centuries ago.

This, a million times. Out with the English royals, in with the Irish wannabe royals. Or as Yeats put it so presciently:

Hurrah for revolution and more cannon shot;
A beggar on horseback lashes a beggar on foot;
Hurrah for revolution and cannon come again,
The beggars have changed places but the lash goes on - WB Yeats, 'The Great Day'

Riskymove · 09-08-2018 3:43pm

ArchXStanton wrote: »

"The Office of the President is exempt from Freedom of Information legislation despite receiving more than €30m from taxpayers over the past seven years."

Yet revenue have no problem being able to go through my affairs making sure im a good wage slave as I fund this **** show

different things. Freedom of Information wouldn't apply to any individual's tax affairs

The money spent by the Office of the President is accounted for and is scrutinized by Oireachtas Committees

seamus · 09-08-2018 3:47pm

Deleted User wrote: »

You repeatedly come across as desperate to defend Higgins/the Labour Party. There is, believe it not, a wide range of reasonably-priced quality accommodation between a €3000 per night room, and a €15 per night room. But nice strawman introduced to try and defend the indefensible.

It makes a change from being accused of being a blueshirt I suppose.

I've already explained this. I'm pointing out the absurdity of people claiming that he could have stayed in a cheaper room when they have absolutely no idea what room he stayed in, what was paid for it, nor who paid for it.

There is a cohort of people who would claim that a double room in a 2-star is going over the top when he could have spent less.

Step 1: Prove that the amount spent was unreasonable.

As yet, nobody has done that.

dirtyden wrote: »

But, this is not a business trip representing the Irish people. This was Higgins own flight of fancy.

You have no information on which to base that claim.

Focusing on the money is probably not where the issue lies here, but he could quite easily have found somewhere suitable for less expense.

You have no information on which to base that claim.

It seems pretty clear, given that there is zero evidence that any money has been inappropriately spent anywhere by anyone, that this is just a vehicle for a few to take the chance to have a whinge about Higgins because they dislike him. There is nothing in this. Absolutely zero.

Prove your case and I'll join you.

For Forks Sake · 09-08-2018 3:53pm

Luka Broad Bassist wrote: »

His fawning tribute to the dictator Fidel Castro was a complete embarrassment to the country.

Thankfully Castro was dead at the time, so no harm done.

President Michael D Higgins’ €3,000 a night hotel stays

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